Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

The Kano State government has said that it has taken proactive measures to safeguard people against the Cholera outbreak.

Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, made this disclosure on the “Zauren Premier” program at Premier Radio Kano.

He explained that, in response to the pandemic’s spread across 31 states in Nigeria, the Kano government has launched a sensitization campaign to educate people, particularly in rural areas, on how to protect themselves.

Although Cholera has not been reported in Kano, with no cases recorded in any local government area, Mr. Yusuf explained that the government has procured medicines to combat the disease in the event of an outbreak. Dr. Yusuf attributed the state’s cholera-free status to the prayers of its people.

“We cannot take credit for Kano’s freedom from the pandemic; it is the people’s prayers that have helped.

As a government, we have taken necessary measures, including informing our Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) committee two weeks ago when the disease broke out in Lagos.”

“The committee, comprising health practitioners, surveillance and notification officers, health educators, and ward volunteers, is tasked with reporting any strange disease or pandemic and taking prompt measures to halt its spread,” he said.

He also said that they have designated Zana Hospital as a referral center for suspected Cholera cases. Additionally, they have embarked on a sensitization campaign targeting food vendors and fruit sellers to ensure they maintain proper hygiene practices.

We will soon distribute flyers containing information on first aid and disease prevention to hawkers and the general public. Furthermore, we have commenced treating public wells at risk of contamination in the Kano metropolis.

The Commissioner of Health urged the public to cooperate in preventing the outbreak by maintaining a clean environment and avoiding open defecation.

BEST CHOICE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, a renowned healthcare facility, has reiterated its commitment to providing effective service delivery, a conducive atmosphere, and hospitality to save lives.

The CEO of Best Choice Specialist Hospital, Auwal Lawal Muhammad, made this assertion in an exclusive interview with newsmen in Kano.

Lawal emphasized that the hospital is well-equipped with ultramodern infrastructure and sophisticated health apparatus. Its team of esteemed urologists is dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions for various urological issues.

According to him, the hospital has broadened its routine healthcare services to include treatments for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), kidney stones, bladder control problems, prostate issues, and other urological concerns.

As a registered health facility, BEST CHOICE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL possesses board-certified urologists with extensive experience, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, personalized care, and a compassionate approach.

In addition, the management assured patients of hospitable welfare with advanced treatment options, including minimally invasive procedures.

According to Lawal, when patients visit the hospital, they will have a healthier tomorrow. He noted that scheduling an appointment with their expert urologists helps regain control over one’s urological health.

He urged patients not to let urological issues, kidney stones, bladder, and prostate problems hold them back.

The CEO added that BEST CHOICE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL has moved to its permanent site along Tal’udu Roundabout, near Shekh Bashir El-rayya College, Aminu Kano Way, Kano, Nigeria, where its present headquarters is located. The hospital is not in any way related to any hospital around its former site.

In addition to its renowned urology services, Lawal told newsmen that the hospital offers a broad spectrum of medical services. These include general surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, dental care, dermatology, orthopedics, physiotherapy, obstetric gynecology, a general outpatient clinic, laboratory services, pharmacy, and a neonatal intensive care unit.

He noted that the dental department at BEST CHOICE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL is particularly notable for its extensive range of services where  patients can access tooth extractions, tooth whitening, crowns, bridges, scaling, and polishing. The hospital’s advanced whitening techniques promise to brighten teeth in less than an hour, ensuring patients can smile confidently.

By Dr Ibrahim Musa

With her beaming smile, she seemed excited that the surgeons had finally removed a growth troubling her tommy that had proven difficult to diagnose. She stretched her arm to deliver a sealed envelope containing a histology report of the growth. As an Attending, I was the only one working that day because the resident doctors were on a strike. Charmed by her smiles, I quickly opened the envelope hoping to read good news that would match her spirit and her equally excited mother. My smile froze. What should I tell her? The pathologists had made a diagnosis of a diffuse large B lymphoma. It’s quite an aggressive tumor that could overwhelm a patient within a short time.

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“Doctor, what is the report saying?” “You have cancer”, I replied. The devastating news instantly changed her mood. Breaking such bad news is a job no doctor wants to engage in. I explained the treatment options and the fact that there is a targeted therapy called Rituximab that could potentially improve survival if added to her chemotherapy. A vial of the drug costs hundreds of thousands and she would need at least 6 cycles within ~5 months of 3 weekly treatment. “Doctor, we cannot afford it,” her mother interjected.

Three months later, when I came for the ward round she had deteriorated badly. The growth is already back and almost 10 times bigger- obstructing her intestine and protruding on the anterior abdominal wall from her pelvis. She could barely breathe while struggling to hold on to her mother. As I watched her writhe in pain, I felt hopeless and sad. I felt defeated but beyond that I felt like we have all failed her. I silently fought tears as I struggled not to betray emotions. If I cry I would break the hearts of the people around at the time they needed me to give them hope. “You must be strong”, I told myself. But at that moment I was so sure that death would be a relief for her. She died the next morning unable to do even an X ray due to poverty. I keep asking myself what we can do to mitigate these unfortunate scenarios? Over 40% of the Nigerians live on less than $1 per day. With this extreme poverty, how do we expect them to shoulder the cost of exorbitant care from the angle of catastrophic spending?

Dr Ibrahim Musa is a consultant at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital